Bernice Sandler passed away at age 90 on Jan. 5, 2019. Sandler was a feminist and human right activist who fought for women’s equal rights in education during the 1960s and 1970s. She was also one of the main powerhouses behind the creation and passing of the Title IX law in 1972. Title IX was the first civil rights law to ban sex discrimination in federally funded educational institutions.
Forty-seven years later, the impact of Sandler and many other women activists persists. The number of female college undergraduate enrollment and athletic teams have grown over the decades. During fall of 2018, 56 percent female students on campuses nationwide, according to the U.S. Department of Education. There was also 2.2. million fewer men than women enrolled in universities. Although some disparities remain in male to female ratios for college athletic teams, the number of female sport teams have significantly increased over the years, as well as, opportunities for female athletes.
